Electronics?

L

laney

New member
I realize just like anything else that the weakest link can ruin everything. Where are you guys getting good quality electronics from? I'd hate to spend time on getting the right piece of wood, SD pups, and end up using poor switches, pots, etc and ruin it all. I have Radio Shack parts now and don't think that's the way to go.

Thoughts greatly appreciated...
 
Re: Electronics?

A JB and a Demon in a couple of Kramers. Both solid body. I just don't want to use the original electronic because I hear they are cheap?
 
Re: Electronics?

I'd say CTS 500K pots to start with. But if you wait a little bit, on of the real guitar nerds will show up to the rescue and help you out with cap/resistor values. Is this a JB(b) and demon(n) combo? or a matched set in either guitar? Or...
 
Re: Electronics?

Thanks. What is CTS? I'm assuming the brand and where is best place to get them?

I'm set on how to wire my pups, switches, pots, etc. I've done this before but just used cheap components from Radio Shack.

I'm wondering where I can get good quality pots, switches and wiring, for a decent price as well.
 
Re: Electronics?

I get my CTS pots and Switchcraft jacks from Matt (MartinSixStringCustoms) and switches from either WD Music or AllParts, though Matt could probably set you up with those too. The wire is from Radio Shack, so is the solder and the capacitors I use.
 
Re: Electronics?

I've had pretty good luck with stuff from Stew Mac. Nice catalog too. They also offer alot fo support. You should at least check 'em out and subscribe to their guitar repair weekly email thing...
 
Re: Electronics?

RS Guitarworks is actually very decent (they are also very helpful - good service)... http://www.rsguitarworks.net/rsstore/index.php
But not sure if they have kits and such for Kramers, although many parts like pots and such can be had through them. They have good caps too.

I would advise to avoid www.guitarpartsresource.com. Extremely uncommunicative. Their assortment is impressive, but their operation is quite shady from my experience with them.


cheers
 
Re: Electronics?

CTS pots and Switchcraft jacks are the way to go. That being said, I just threw Alpha pots & such from GFS in my Predator and they sound just as nice as the CTS stuff in my Charvel. It's still early though, so who knows about longevity at this point.
 
Re: Electronics?

Just send Matt (martinsixstringcustoms) a PM with what you need and he will take care of you.
 
Re: Electronics?

I'm partial to the Mallory cylinder caps. As for what values, it's a matter of taste though 0.22 is the "standard" for a tone pot. Get a higher value cap for a darker tone, lower for brighter.
 
Re: Electronics?

One wiring question. I do have wire from radio shack. It's shielded I belive. It's three wires (blue, white and bare) wraped in a grey cover.

Would this stuff be fine to use. maybe it is and overthinking.
 
Re: Electronics?

Zhangliqun said:
I'm partial to the Mallory cylinder caps. As for what values, it's a matter of taste though 0.22 is the "standard" for a tone pot. Get a higher value cap for a darker tone, lower for brighter.
Click to expand...

You mean 0.022uf, right? 0.22uf is a pretty big cap for a tone cap. ;)

laney said:
One wiring question. I do have wire from radio shack. It's shielded I belive. It's three wires (blue, white and bare) wraped in a grey cover.

Would this stuff be fine to use. maybe it is and overthinking.
Click to expand...

Nah, you don't need that stuff. Just get the spools of 22AWG single-conductor wire they have. Comes in red, black, green and white.

The shielded cable can be used to go from the volume pot to the output jack but it's not necessary.
 
Re: Electronics?

Really, cool. So I'm overthinking. This shielded wire is not necessary. Okay. So using the wire you suggested with quality pots and switches......and of course proper grounding, I should be good to go.
 
Re: Electronics?

I use solid insulated wire from radio shack... can't remember the gauge... maybe 24AWG? I got a package that had three spools (red, green, black) for only a few dollars, and it lasts a long time.

I typically buy parts from StewMac as well. Being in Ohio, shipping will be pretty quick for you. Downfall is you pay tax. I just ordered some parts first thing this morning in fact, and I expect to get them tomorrow (though C-Land might be another day away for USPS). Every now and again I'll pick up parts from Warmoth if I'm ordering something else like a guard or neck or body. They have a $25 minimum order, though, and don't have nearly the selection that StewMac has.
 
Re: Electronics?

So tone wise what would 250k vs. 500k pots value do to the tone of the invader in an alder strat? I have now idea what these "k" mean BTW. Thanks
 
Re: Electronics?

250k, 500k = 250,000, 500,000 respectively. The "k" means thousand. We're dealing with ohms here so it's 250,000 or 500,000 ohms. When you do things like 4.7k, that would be 4,700. I hear accounts talk dollars with "k" instead of "thousand" all the time. Same thing. ;)

To answer your question, a 250k pot with an Invader will warm it up some. Take a 500k pot and roll it back to about 7 (about equal to 250k with analog pots) and you'll hear how it will sound, roughly. I say roughly because you have to factor in different brands, taper, overall value of the pot used (they can vary some), etc..
 
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